The misty ruins of Machu Picchu sit at the top of a mountain and at the top of many travelers’ bucket list. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the new seven wonders of the world. It’s also incredibly crowded, a pain in the butt to get to, and expensive. Can this collection of ruins really be that great? Is Machu Picchu worth it? Or is it just another over-hyped tourist trap?
Well, dear reader, I have ascended Machu Picchu’s staggering heights and found the final, definitive answer to this question. Read on to discover if I think Machu Picchu is worth it and why (or maybe why not.)
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The Quick Answer: Is Machu Picchu Worth It?
I can say without any reservations that I believe Machu Picchu is one hundred percent worth visiting. Despite being expensive, crowded, touristy, and very hyped, it is both staggeringly beautiful and a fascinating glimpse into the world of the ancient Inca.
Worth it if: you appreciate beautiful things, you haven’t lost your sense of awe and wonder, you are interested in indigenous culture and history, you don’t mind dealing with some logistics and expenses.
Disappointing if: you’re expecting an unexplored, Indiana Jones type experience, you absolutely can’t stand other tourists, you’re very tight with money.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit Machu Picchu?
There’s no getting around it: Machu Picchu is expensive. It’s probably the most expensive thing you’ll do in Peru, unless you decide to buy real estate or something. I’m not here to judge your travel purchase decisions.
The ticket itself costs 163 soles in total, which is around $45 U.S. Please keep in mind that prices change regularly, so be sure to check the official website. Various add-on side trips and other routes cost a little bit more.
That’s assuming you get the tickets on the official website: https://tuboleto.cultura.pe/llaqta_machupicchu.
The cost doesn’t include transportation or a guide. If you decide to visit Machu Picchu with a guided tour, make sure you ask if the ticket is included in the price or not. You’ll probably end up paying more than you would if you got your ticket yourself, but I guess you pay for the convenience of having it all arranged. Or, you may have to opt for a tour if tickets on the official site are all booked. I’d just go with the official site and book early.
That’s just the ticket, though. You also have to pay $25 for the shuttle from Aguas Calientes to the ruins. And you’ll need to factor in another $100 to $200 for the train/bus from Ollantaytambo or Cusco. Plus the cost of a hotel if you spend the night in Aguas Calientes. If you want to hike the Inca Trail, you’re looking at $600 to $1000. And what about flying or busing to Cusco in the first place? (You should also take a few days at least to explore Cusco.)
None of this is cheap. And while I still think Machu Picchu is worth the cost, I completely understand why some budget travelers would consider skipping it. Try to remember that those costs all go towards a pretty amazing, probably once-in-a-lifetime experience.
How Difficult is it to Visit Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu can seem like a bit of a logistical nightmare. You have to coordinate your entrance ticket, transportation, hotel, and whatever else. It can seem overwhelming, especially considering the official ticket website is entirely in Spanish.
However, unless you’re paralyzed by some kind of anxiety disorder, all of these logistics are doable. If you’re traveling in the high season (June to November), you’ll want to book your ticket well in advance. If you’re in the low season, you still should book in advance, but you have more flexibility.
These days you can book everything you need online. Have a Spanish speaking friend help with the ticket website or use a translation app if you don’t speak Spanish yourself. The train websites are available in English.
The Case Against: Why Some People Are Disappointed
The main reason why some people feel Machu Picchu is overrated is the other tourists. It’s very popular, very touristy, and can become very crowded. The cost is also a big factor. Other travel guides might tell you that Peru has plenty of other Inca ruins that are nowhere near as crowded or expensive as Machu Picchu. Some call Machu Picchu “Inca Disneyland.”
Yes, there’s no getting around the fact that Machu Picchu is expensive and incredibly popular. Now, I’ve never been to Disneyland (because I hate crowds and tacky touristy junk), but I still think that assessment is a little unfair.
As far as crowds go, yes, of course, if you go during the middle of the day in the middle of the high season, you’re going to be surrounded by other tourists. However, we went during the morning in February, the middle of the rainy season. It was still crowded, but perfectly manageable and never once felt overwhelming.
I also think that the way they sell tickets keeps things less crowded than they might have been in the past. You buy a ticket based on the time you want to enter the site, and then choose between three different routes, or “circuits”. This new method was introduced during the pandemic to maintain social distancing and as a method to preserve the ruins, but it has the added effect of keeping the crowds a little less claustrophobic.
As for price… Yeah, sometimes shit’s expensive. I’m not a wealthy man, but I believe that there are some things in life that are worth paying for: good wine, solid walking shoes, and beautiful, well-preserved Inca ruins. In the over three hours I spent in Machu Picchu, I never once felt like I was getting short changed.
And as for those other ruins? Sure, Peru has many fabulous Inca ruins, such as those at Ollantaytambo, but I have yet to see any that come close to Machu Picchu.
The Case For: What Makes it Special
While there are other ruins out there, time and the Spanish pillaged most of them, and they are nowhere near as well preserved as Machu Picchu. They’re still great, but they’re just a fraction of what they once were. Machu Picchu remained hidden in the mountains for hundreds of years, and was only really rediscovered in 1911. It remains remarkably well preserved for being built in the 15th century.
And while there are other, remote, Inca sites that have survived, you need to hike multiple days to reach them. You can take a train and a shuttle bus to Machu Picchu. The combination of preservation and accessibility are what makes Machu Picchu unique.
Machu Picchu is also one of those places that, if you let it, will truly take your breath away. And not just because of the altitude. The Inca built their palaces and buildings in harmony with the surrounding nature, and you can really see that harmony in Machu Picchu. And not only are the buildings amazing, but the views of the surrounding, steep, misty green mountains are spectacular.
It really is the kind of place that neither pictures, or words can do justice. Don’t take my word for it. UNESCO, the organization in charge of preserving monuments and cultural heritage, says that “the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is among the greatest artistic, architectural and land use achievements anywhere.”
Frequently Asked Questions
You don’t need to hike the Inca Trail to visit Machu Picchu.The ruins themselves are accessible by train and shuttle bus. They are still a very worthwhile visit on their own.
I think the ruins of Machu Picchu are definitely not overrated. In my opinion, they are one of those rare sites that are popular for a very good reason.
No, Machu Picchu is still worthwhile without a guide. We didn’t have one when we visited. Guides are recommended, however, since they can give you more context and information about what you’re seeing. If I had to do it again I would hire a guide.
Yes, Machu Picchu is expensive. You can expect to spend upwards of $300 when you factor in transportation and other expenses. However, the reward is well worth the cost.
I hate crowds and I personally had a fantastic time visiting Machu Picchu. The best advice to avoid crowds is to visit during the rainy season (December through February) and get your ticket for early in the morning.
The Final, Unquestioned, Verdict on Whether Machu Picchu is Worth Visiting
I’m usually not the sort of person who likes touristy, over-hyped places. I thought Bocas del Toro in Panama was terrible, and felt very lukewarm about Medellin in Colombia. In the end, I recognize that travel is subjective. We all have different interests and like different things.
However, I tend to think that people who don’t like Machu Picchu probably did it wrong. Maybe they showed up in the middle of the day during the high season when the site is at its most crowded. Maybe they’re travel hipsters who only travel to try and brag about visiting remote places with zero other tourists. Perhaps those people really should skip Machu Picchu and visit Bismarck, North Dakota instead?
Sometimes popular travel destinations really are over-hyped. I understand what it’s like to visit that place everyone tells you is amazing, only to come away disappointed. Sometimes, though, a place is popular for a very good reason.
Machu Picchu is one of those places.
I you like ancient ruins, are interested in indigenous culture, or just plain appreciate gorgeous parts of the world, then Machu Picchu is totally worth visiting. On the other hand, if your only goal is to get as far off the beaten path as possible, I’m sure hotels in Bismarck have plenty of vacancies.
If I’ve convinced you to visit Machu Picchu, you’ll want to check out our guide here: The Complete Machu Picchu Guide for Independent Travelers Who Don’t Want to Hike
And if you want more than Machu Picchu, you’ll have to read our guide to Peru: Peru Travel Guide: Beyond Machu Picchu
Useful Websites for Traveling Peru
As much as we might long for the days when you could show up to a town with nothing more than a beat-up guidebook and a sense of adventure, today much of traveling involves being glued to our phones making bookings. I’ve compiled some helpful apps and websites below that at least help make those bookings more convenient so you can spend less time staring at your phone and more time exploring at your surroundings. Some of these sites are affiliate links that give me a small commission at no cost to you if you chose to book through them. All of them are sites I’ve used personally and have no problem recommending.
Just be sure to do your due diligence as much as possible. Only hire local guides and try as much as possible to stay in locally owned hotels and hostels so that your hard earned travel dollars actually go to support the local economies of the places you visit.
Booking.com is basically the world’s only hotel booking website. They have hotels, guesthouses and vacation rentals all over Peru.
Hostelworld is the go-to site for booking hostels. If dorm rooms and shared bathrooms are your thing, you’ll find hostels throughout Peru.
Get Your Guide offers tours and activities all around the world. Unlike some other sites and apps that do the same thing, you can actually find some reasonably priced deals here.
Cabify is the best way to book a taxi in Peru’s major cities. It works like Uber, but you get connected to a licensed, authorized, taxi instead of just some random weirdo.
RedBus is the place to book long-distance buses in Peru. You can get your tickets and browse schedules ahead of time, and alleviate the stress of not knowing whether the bus you want will be sold out before you get to the station.
Travel insurance can turn a potential trip-ruining disaster into a mere inconvenience. We used SafetyWing for travel insurance during our South America trip and had a great experience. We’ve also used used World Nomads and found them easy to use and set up. If you do decide to get travel insurance, I suggest comparing both options and seeing what works for you.
We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. The same applies to SafetyWing.
